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U.S. Army Kwajalein AtollReagan Test Site

U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA)A Vital National Asset

Kwajalein Atoll is part ofthe Republic of theMarshall Islands in thewest central PacificOcean. It lies 2,400miles southwest ofHonolulu, Hawaii.Kwajalein is in the samegeneral latitude as thesouthern Philippines andthe same general longi-tude as New Zealand,approximately 3,200miles to the south.Kwajalein Atoll lies lessthan 700 miles north ofthe equator.

U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA),home to Ronald Reagan Ballistic MissileDefense Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll (RTS),operates as a subordinate command of theU.S. Army Space and Missile DefenseCommand. The USAKA commander isresponsible for Kwajalein�s and Roi-Namur�s more than 2,400 residents, com-prised of military personnel, Army civilians,contractor employees, tenants, and familymembers. The use of the Kwajalein Atoll as

a missile range is made possible throughlease agreements negotiated with theRepublic of the Marshall Islands.

RTS is a multi-billion-dollar facility withstate-of-the-art instrumentation unmatchedanywhere in the world. It offers spacetracking and full-envelope strategic andtactical missile testing with the world�s mostsophisticated suite of radar, optics, telem-etry, and scoring sensors.

Kwajalein is west of theinternational date line,making it one day aheadof Hawaii and thecontinental United States.When it�s noon Sunday onKwajalein, it�s 2 p.m.Saturday in Honolulu and7 p.m. (EST) Saturday onthe East Coast. The workweek on Kwajalein andRoi-Namur is Tuesdaythrough Saturday, tocorrespond to the workweek in the states.

A Unique Place to Call Home

Kwajalein Atoll is a crescent loop ofcoral reef enclosing an area of 1,100 squaremiles � the world�s largest lagoon. Situatedon the reef are approximately 100 smallislands with a total land area of 5.6 squaremiles. Kwajalein Island, the largest in theatoll, is one-half mile wide and three mileslong (approximately 1.2 square miles inarea). From Kwajalein Island to Roi-Namur, in the north, is about 50 miles;

from Kwajalein to Ebadon, in the northwestcorner, it�s about 75 miles. The lagoon is 15miles across at its widest point.

Approximately 12,000 Marshallesecitizens live within the atoll, with themajority living on Ebeye, three miles northof Kwajalein. Approximately 1,500Marshallese are employed by USAKAcontractors.

Reagan Test SiteA World Class Test Facility

Mission: Reagan Test Siteoperates as a major rangeand test facility base,providing strategicNational Missile Defenseand Theater MissileDefense system testing, aswell as sensor systemresearch and developmenttesting. RTS also con-ducts space operations insupport of U.S. SpaceCommand and NASA,including space objectidentification, spacesurveillance, and newforeign launch spacetracking.

RTS History

At the end of World War II, Kwajaleinwas established as a U.S. Navy refueling,supply, and communications station. Abrief flurry of activity supporting KoreanWar operations in the early 1950s andweapons testing a few years later wasfollowed by declining activity that resultedin the station being scheduled for closure.

A new chapter in its history began in1959, after Kwajalein was selected to bethe test site for the NIKE-ZEUSanti-missile program at the then-U.S. ArmyRocket and Guided Missile Agency. Atabout the same time, the island ofRoi-Namur was chosen for the develop-ment of a center for the Advanced Re-search Project Agency (ARPA) of theDepartment of Defense. This program,designated Project PRESS (Pacific RangeElectromagnetic Signature Studies), hadrelated facilities in California, Hawaii, andWake Island. Naval Station Kwajaleinbecame Pacific Missile Range Facility,Kwajalein, with the Army and ARPA astenant activities.

In July 1964, command of Kwajaleinwas transferred from the Navy to the Armyas Kwajalein Test Site (KTS), assigned tothe NIKE-X Project Office at RedstoneArsenal, Ala.

When the SENTINEL Systems Organi-zation was established in 1967, the re-sources and staff of the NIKE-X ProjectOffice, including KTS, were transferred tothe new SENTINEL Systems Command.At Kwajalein, successful launchings of theSPARTAN missile took place in March andMay of 1968.

In April 1968, KTS was redesignatedKwajalein Missile Range (KMR). Thefollowing year, the SENTINEL SystemsCommand was redesignated SAFEGUARDSystems Command. Under this program,tests were conducted using SPRINT andSPARTAN missile systems.

In May 1974, the SAFEGUARDSystems Command was redesignatedBallistic Missile Defense Systems Com-mand (BMDSC) under the Ballistic MissileDefense Organization (BMDO). In July1985, BMDSC was redesignated the U.S.Army Strategic Defense Command(USASDC). In May 1986, KMR wasredesignated the United States ArmyKwajalein Atoll (USAKA). This changereflected the USAKA commander�sexpanded role under the Compact of FreeAssociation, a document that defines thespecial relationship between the U.S. andthe Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI)and the roles and responsibilities of each.As part of this change, the USAKA RangeCommand was established as a tenantcommand, responsible for range testoperations. In March 1991, USAKA RangeCommand was redesignated KwajaleinMissile Range.

As a result of a 1999 resolution by theRepublic of the Marshall Islands Nitijela(Congress) requesting a name changehonoring President Ronald Reagan, the106th U.S. Congress passed a bill designat-ing the Kwajalein Missile Range as theRonald Reagan Ballistic Missile DefenseTest Site at Kwajalein Atoll. The namechange became official on the Army�s226th birthday, June 15, 2001. For the sakeof brevity, the Range is called the ReaganTest Site (RTS). The SMDC deputycommander is the national range com-mander for RTS.

Tenants

USAKA�s tenants include the MissileDefense Agency, U.S. Army Space andMissile Defense Command, Global Posi-tioning System, Army Corps of Engineers,Federal Aviation Administration, NationalImaging and Mapping Agency, Job Corps,and Department of Energy.

USAKA Contractors

Contractors

USAKA is a government-owned,contractor-operated (GOCO) installation.The Kwajalein community consists of asmall contingent of military and govern-ment civilian personnel and their familiesand a large population of contractor person-nel and their families. Two main areassupported by contractors are KwajaleinLogistics Support (KLS) and IntegratedRange Engineering (IRE).

The KLS contract provides range andcommunity support, including medical anddental care, religious services, schools,retail merchandising, housing, recreationalactivities, food services, newspaper, radioand TV, fire fighting, supply services,power plant and other facilities, and air,sea, and land transportation.

The IRE contract provides operationand maintenance of RTS instrumentationand the Kiernan Re-Entry MeasurementSite (KREMS) radars. Range instrumenta-

tion includes radars, telemetry, photo-optics,and communications systems. KREMS, onRoi-Namur, is the most sophisticated andimportant U.S. research and developmentradar site, consisting of four one-of-a-kindinstrumentation radars: TRADEX, ALCOR,ALTAIR, and MMW. These systems trackmissiles and space objects, collectingsophisticated data. For many years,KREMS has played a role in collecting dataassociated with intercontinental ballisticmissile testing and space tracking. Massa-chusetts Institute of Technology/LincolnLaboratory (MIT/LL) is the scientificadvisor to the Range.

Other contractors at Kwajalein providebanking, weather, travel, and securityservices. The U.S. Army Corps of Engi-neers oversees construction contractors.

What is the weather like?

Situated less than 700 miles north of theequator, Kwajalein Atoll has a tropicalmarine climate characterized by relativelyhigh annual rainfall (averaging over 100inches) and warm to hot, humid weatherthroughout the year. Temperatures varylittle. Because of the low latitude, there areonly slight seasonal variations in the altitudeof the sun and amount of daylight anddarkness. The resulting small variation insolar energy and the marine influence arethe principal reasons for the very slightchange in temperature � about twodegrees Fahrenheit � between the coolestmonth and the warmest. The average dailytemperature range is about 10 degrees, withhighs of about 87 degrees in the earlyafternoon and lows of about 77 degrees inthe early morning.

So, You’re Moving to Kwajalein AtollYou Have Questions

The islands are . . .warm, sunny days, palmtrees swaying in thetrade winds, blue water,and white beaches . . .co-existing withstate-of-the-art radars,optical tracking systems,communications systems,and instrumentation.

Although isolated, Kwajalein appearssimilar to many American communities, butthere are some notable differences betweenour communities and stateside ones.Contractors manage the stores, restaurants,police and fire departments, hospital,schools, utilities, recreation, airport, andharbor. Traffic is far lighter than in mostsmall towns. There are no privately ownedautomobiles; bicycles are the standardmeans of transportation.

Sunday, the first day of the weekend, isthe primary day for religious observances,and Monday, the second day of the week-end, is a day for shopping, recreation, yardwork, and patio sales.

The rainy season extends frommid-May to mid-December. About 75percent of the annual rainfall is recordedduring this period. September, October, andNovember are the wettest months. Lighteasterly winds, almost constant cloudiness,and frequent moderate to heavy showersprevail during the wet season.

The dry, windy season extends frommid-December to mid-May and is charac-terized by frequent sunny days and somelight showers of short duration. In thisseason, the trade winds are persistent,blowing almost continuously from thenortheast at 15 to 20 knots.

Severe storms and damaging winds areuncommon in the vicinity of KwajaleinAtoll. However, weak depressions mayform nearby during any season. Some ofthese intensify and eventually develop intotyphoons, after moving away westward.These depressions can cause heavy rainfallat Kwajalein Atoll.

Will I need any immunizations orvaccines to go to Kwajalein Atoll?

It is recommended, but not required,that adults coming to Kwajalein Atollreceive a baseline TB skin test and aHepatitis A vaccination. All adults should becurrent on standard immunizations andshould make sure that their shot records areup-to-date.

For children up to five years of age,routine preschool vaccinations arerecommended.

Students are required to have a baselineTB skin test, the Hepatitis B series and thechicken pox vaccination (or documentationof having had chicken pox) to enter theKwajalein school system. Students shouldalso be current on standard immunizationsand have up-to-date shot records.

Standard immunizations and vaccina-tions, as well as a limited variety of othersthat may be required for vacation destina-tions, are available at Kwajalein Hospital.

What to Ship

Household Needs

Dishes, glassware,silverware, cookingutensils, and smallappliances are notprovided. Bring extraserving pieces forentertaining, anddinnerware,stemware, andsilverware suitable foreveryday use andentertaining. Theusual linens should bebrought: sheets,towels, blankets,bedspreads, table-cloths (check withyour sponsor for size),and napkins. Bedpillows are not provided. Hampers,clocks, throw pillows, and an afghanare useful. Favorite knickknacks,pictures, photos, and personal deco-rations can be shipped from home(see checklist). If you sew, ship asewing machine, patterns, buttons,zippers, thread, and other sewingnotions, or bring a catalog thatspecializes in these items. There is a

small selection of fabric here, alongwith a limited supply of thread andzippers.

TV and video tapes, as well asmusic, are prime home entertain-ment. Stereos, VCRs, DVD players,and TVs are available throughMacy�s, but quantities and selectionare often limited.

Houses and trailersreceive interior rehabbetween tenants inaddition to emergencyand routine mainte-nance. The rehabusually includesinterior painting,window washing, andappliance/floor clean-ing.

Housing occupantsare responsible for thecare and upkeep oftheir yards. Self-Helphas all the necessarytools available free toborrow. Lawn mow-ers are delivered andpicked up, and garden

tools are available. For home repair,Self-Help also lends small tools, suchas hammers, wrenches, saws, anddrills. Building materials and paint aresold at local retail outlets and patiosales, and plants can be purchased atMacy�s West and at patio sales.

Items you may want to considerincluding in your shipment:Bathroom accessories (rugs, shower curtain, space-saver storage units)Bathroom scaleBooksCan openerCard table and chairsChild care items*ClocksCoffee makerCookbooksCookwareComputerComputer deskCosmeticsDishes (china and everyday, with

Household Shipment Checklist extra serving dishes)Dishwasher (portable only)HamperHobby and craft materialsLinens: blankets (with air conditioning, they are necessary), sheets, towels, bedspreads, bed pillows, curtains, tablecloths, napkinsMail-order catalogsMicrowave ovenPatterns and notionsPaintings and picturesPatio furnitureRadioRugs: room-sized for old housing, throw rugs, area rugs

Sewing machineSilverwareStemwareStereo systemTVToolboxVacuum cleanerVCRWastebaskets

*Cribs are available on loan fromFurniture Warehouse, but do bring astroller (make certain it has a canopyor other covering to protect yourbaby from the intense tropical sun),playpens, door gates, and a supply ofbottle liners.

Getting Around, Banking, and Postal Services

Getting Around

Bicycles are the standard meansof transportation on Kwajalein,because no private vehicles arepermitted. Bicycles can be pur-chased new at Macy�s West or usedfrom departing residents. Adulttricycles are also available. The saltair causes continuous corrosion,making maintenance of complexbicycles difficult. If you want theconvenience of a multi-speedbicycle, the best solution is athree-speed with a coaster brake.Spare parts and repair tools areavailable at Macy�s West.Child carrier seats and trailers foradult bicycles are also sold atMacy�s West.

Free bus service providestransportation to and from worksites. Vans transport groceries fromthe market to your home. Govern-ment vehicles, including golf carts,vans, and trucks, are used primarilyfor business and maintenancepurposes. Vehicles can also berented for personal use for a nominalfee.

Banking

A Bank of Guam branch providesbanking services for the Kwajaleincommunity. The bank is a member ofthe Federal Reserve System. Be-cause checks require up to threeweeks for processing at the Bank ofGuam, many people keep their U.S.accounts open in addition to openingan account at Kwajalein. Those whodon�t have an account with the Bankof Guam can cash personal checksup to $50 at the bank for a smallcharge. For larger amounts, custom-ers must wait for the check to clear.

Kwajaleinretail outletsaccept checksfor up to $50over the amountof purchase.Macy�s and theFinance Officecash personalchecks up to$200.

Credit cardsare accepted atmany retailfacilities onKwaj. Checks

drawn on U.S. banks are accepted atall retail facilities. There is an auto-matic teller service on Kwajalein.

Post Office

New arrivals are issued a postoffice box. Postal boxes can beobtained for you in advance by yoursponsor. If you will be living onKwajalein, your address will be:

Your NameP.O. Box xxxAPO AP 96555

Kwajalein receives and dis-patches stateside mail via Air Mobil-ity Command (AMC) military planes.Average transit time for letters andpackages from the states is two tofour weeks.

The rate for a one-ounce letter isthe same as on the mainland. Infor-mation about international mail canbe obtained from the post office.

Shopping for Groceries andSundries

A grocery store (Surfway),convenience store (Ten-Ten), depart-ment store (Macy�s), and

Shopping, Dining, and Other Retail Services

sporting goods/gardening/housewaresstore (Macy�s West) are the island�sprincipal retail facilities. Each facilitycarries a wide range of products,which are adequate for most needs.Island regulations require properidentification for shopping at anyretail facility. Every resident 10 yearsof age and older is issued a badge,which serves as ID for shopping.

The Retail Office on island canspecial-order large-ticket items suchas dishwashers and some types offurniture, including beds and rose-wood furniture. AAFES, a militarymail-order service catalog, is alsoavailable for use at theRetail Office.

Surfway

Surfway is a grocery store thatstocks a variety of essentials and alimited selection of specialty items.Food prices are generally compa-rable to those in Hawaii. Discountbrands are not available.

Because all food and suppliesmust be imported, it is not possible tostock as wide a variety of items ascan be found in stateside markets.

Shortages occur from time to time,and island cooks soon grow accus-tomed to adapting their menus towhat is available at Surfway. Consid-ering the shipping distance involved,Surfway is remarkably well-stocked.

Dairy products, including freshmilk, are brought in from Hawaii. Asurprisingly varied selection of freshproduce is flown in three times aweek from California and Hawaii.Seasonal items, such as blueberries,

strawberries, and watermelon, arefrequently available. Meats and fishare frozen; however, some thaweditems are for sale daily in the chilledsection. Cold cuts, cheeses, andother deli items are also available.Customers can order special cuts ofmeat. Frozen breads, rolls, bagels,and English muffins are available atSurfway, along with fresh bread androlls baked locally.

Ten-Ten

Ten-Ten is open seven days aweek. This full-service conveniencestore carries a variety of drugs,sundries, convenience groceries, andlimited fresh produce, as well aswine, liquor, beer, tobacco, film,batteries, greeting cards, stationery,paperback books, magazines, news-papers, and other drugstore items.

Republic of the Marshall IslandsOur International Partner

The Republic of theMarshall Islands (RMI)consists of a double chainof 29 atolls and fiveislands with a total landarea of 74 square miles.The RMI capital ofMajuro is in the Ratak(Sunrise or Eastern)chain, and KwajaleinAtoll is in the Ralik(Sunset or Western)chain.

The USAKA commanderserves as the representativeof the U.S. commander,Pacific, to the Republic ofthe Marshall Islands andthe Republic of Kiribati.

As a visitor toKwajalein, you mayhave a uniqueopportunity tobecome acquaintedwith theMarshallese peopleand their culture.Three miles northof Kwajalein Islandis the island ofEbeye, home formore than 10,000Marshallesenationals. Approxi-mately 1,500Marshallese areemployed by ourcontractors in theareas of lawenforcement,logistics support, and food services.

As you associate with Marshalleseworkers and familiarize yourself withEbeye, you will learn that the people aretypically friendly and cheerful. You�ll beable to appreciate their handicraft and theirculture, and you may even decide to learntheir language.

History of the Republic of theMarshall Islands (RMI)

The history of the Marshall Islandsrecords the successive influences ofvarious peoples. It is thought that theislands were populated around 3,000 B.C.to 2,000 B.C. by migrations from thePhilippines, Malaysia, New Guinea, andadjacent islands. During the past thousandyears, an influx of Polynesians occurred.

Until the 16th century, the area had nocontact with the Western world and devel-oped its own culture, still evident today.Spanish explorers first �discovered� theMarshalls in 1526, but had little to do withthese small coral islands. In the late 1700s,the Marshalls were �rediscovered� byvarious European voyagers, notably theEnglish captains Gilbert and Marshall (for

whom the Marshall Islands were named).It was not until the l9th century, with thearrival of traders, whalers, and missionaries,that Western influences began to be felt.The development of the copra trade,together with awakening interest in thestrategic importance of the islands, led torivalries among the increasingly imperialisticnations of Europe.

By the end of the 19th century, Spainhad surrendered her Micronesian claims toGermany. During World War I, the Japa-nese took control of Micronesia. Theislands remained under Japanese domina-tion until they were occupied by the U.S.toward the close of World War II. InJanuary and February 1944, fierce battleswere fought for Kwajalein, Roi-Namur, andother islands in the atoll. An interim militarygovernment assumed control.

Following the Japanese surrender in1945, the islands remained under militaryadministration until 1947, when they be-came part of the United Nations TrustTerritory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI). Byagreement with the United Nations, theU.S. assumed responsibility for the TTPIthrough the Department of the Interior. In1969, negotiations began for a new politicalstatus for Micronesia.

Kom Ruwainene(Welcome)

The Marshallese CulturalCenter on Kwajalein wasestablished in 1997. Thecenter is designed toperpetuate Marshallesehistory and culturethrough sharing of crafts,art, songs, dance, photo-graphs, artifacts, anddisplays. It is a livingactivities center whereMarshallese and Ameri-can people can cometogether to exchangeideas and thoughts thatlead to a better under-standing between thepeople of the two nations.

Educational Opportunities

Educational opportunities for studentsfrom the RMI have Kwajalein ties. Eachyear, the Guest Student Program offers fivechildren from Ebeye the opportunity toattend Kwajalein schools, beginning inkindergarten and attending through 12thgrade. The first group of these studentsgraduated in the class of 1999 at KwajaleinHigh School. In another cooperativeeducational program, a number of Kwajresidents teach and volunteer at Mar-shallese primary and secondary schools andthe College of the Marshall Islands.

The College of the Marshall Islands,with campuses at Majuro and Gugeegue(an island neighboring Kwajalein), is a fullyaccredited community college, offering two-year associate of arts and sciences degreesin a number of disciplines. Many ofKwajalein�s professionals join CMI as part-time faculty members. CMI also partnerswith a Kwajalein contractor to provideshort- and long-term training and educa-tional opportunities to its students.

Job Corps, a U.S. federally sponsoredjobs training program, has a site onKwajalein. Job Corps has prepared morethan 1,500 young Marshallese men andwomen to go on to job training in the states.The program provides an open-entry, open-exit educational environment, in which eachstudent progresses at his or her own pace ina competency-based curriculum. The JobCorps Center plays an important role inUSAKA�s good neighbor policy with theRMI.

RMI Today

In 1985, the U.S. ratified the Compactof Free Association, a document thatdefines the special relationship between ourtwo countries. It was signed by PresidentReagan in January 1986 and ratified by theNitijela (Congress) of the RMI in February1986. On Oct. 21, 1986, the Compact ofFree Association was put in place for a 15-year term, with provisions to be re-negoti-

ated at the end of that time. Those negotia-tions are currently underway.

The RMI became a member of theUnited Nations in 1991. A U.S. Embassy islocated on Majuro. Periodically, an embassyofficial visits USAKA to provide passportand other notary services for U.S. citizensliving here.

In 1979, constitutional self-governmentin free association with the U.S. wasestablished for the Marshall Islands.

World War II at Kwajalein Atoll: Operation Flintlock

In one historic week, Jan. 29 to Feb. 4, 1944, with the most powerful invasion force ever assembledup to that time, American forces seized Kwajalein Atoll from Japan. The invasion of the MarshallIslands, code named Operation Flintlock, served as a model for future operations in the Pacific. Theseizure of Kwajalein Atoll was the first capture of pre-war Japanese territory and pierced the Japanesedefense perimeter, paving the road to Tokyo. It took strategic control of the Marshalls away from theJapanese and eliminated major naval and air bases. It severed Japanese lines of communication andshortened the Pacific campaign.

The task force that accompanied the 4th Marine Division and the 7th Infantry Division to Kwaja-lein Atoll was the largest in the Pacific, with an assemblage of carriers, battleships, cruisers, anddestroyers. The major atoll islands of Kwajalein, Roi, and Namur were bombarded by ships,carrier-based planes, and land-based planes from the Gilbert Islands for days prior to troop landings.

The Battle for the Southern Atoll. The invasion of Kwajalein Island by the 7th Infantry Divisionwas a near-perfect amphibious assault on beaches at the west end of Kwajalein on Feb. 1. The islandwas secured at dusk on Feb. 4, when the 32nd Regimental Combat Team surged across the last 150yards of the island, overrunning the one remaining bunker (now known as Bunker Hill). Americanlosses were 142 dead, 845 wounded, and two missing in action. The estimate of enemy losses was4,938 dead and 206 taken prisoner.

The Battle for the Northern Atoll. The battle for Roi and Namur islands also began on Feb. 1. Theislands were secured in 24 hours and 15 minutes of fierce fighting. The 4th Marine Division set threenew records on its first operation: It became the first division to go directly into combat from theUnited States; it was first to capture Japanese-mandated territory in the Pacific; and it secured itsobjective in a shorter time than that of any other important operation since the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Battle casualties were 190 Marines killed and 547 wounded on the two islands. Japanese losseswere 3,472 killed and 264 taken prisoner. Many bunkers and buildings remain as evidence of theJapanese time in Marshallese history.